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Tourism is in its infancy in Guinea Bissau; therefore we have a special responsibility to ensure that we do not present a negative impact upon the communities we travel through. Our groups are briefed carefully on local customs and cultures - this is especially important in a region with long-held traditional beliefs in order not to inadvertently cause offence. We only visit communities which we know are pleased to accept visitors, and consult with the traditional leaders of such communities to ensure that we will be welcomed.
In Canthalez we support a local community based initiative where the villagers have instigated a project to allow travellers to track chimpanzees in the surrounding forest. This not only provides income to a remote community and allows them to gain from tourism, but discourages them from harming the wildlife. When tracking chimpanzees, as well as the saltwater hippos in the Bijagos Islands, we ensure that we remain a suitable distance from them to ensure that we do not cause distress.
Our philosophy is to only use small and locally owned suppliers, meaning that the income remains within the country and creates a real economic contribution. We also feel that the passion inherent within such suppliers means that your experience will be enhanced. We also try to engage with our suppliers on an equal basis - getting the lowest possible price usually isn’t the best outcome for local communities and is ultimately unsustainable. We aim to always treat our suppliers fairly and with respect; they are after all part of the key to our success and to us working together is much more than just a business arrangement, but an ongoing relationship that we aim to ensure truly benefits everyone involved.
We believe that tourism is a double edged sword that needs to be wielded very carefully. Our philosophy is to have a limited amount of departures - usually between one and three a year - for each of our itineraries. By limiting our presence in areas where local culture can be quite fragile, we hope to avoid as much as possible the phenomenon whereby an area changes in character due to repeated and prolonged exposure to tourism. We want to visit an area as friends, not intruders and to ensure that what we see will also be there for others to enjoy for many years to come.
Our groups average only six clients, and many tours operate on a private basis with just two travellers. This has much less impact when travelling through rural areas, reducing our environmental and social affects. Finally to emphasise our commitment to Responsible Tourism all clients will receive a copy of our Travellers Code of Conduct with their travel documents.
In Canthalez we support local conservation efforts through the fees that we pay to enter the area. By bringing income to this region it encourages the preservation of wildlife such as chimpanzees – local people are able to see the value of the wildlife through the employment that the reserve provides, and are therefore discouraged from hunting.
When tracking chimpanzees, as well as the saltwater hippos in the Bijagos Islands, we ensure that we remain a suitable distance from them to ensure that we do not cause distress.
We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same holiday can have different views!
